Rail worker dispute escalates as Eurostar train staff to strike for seven days in August, the RMT union says

Eurostar rail workers are to take seven days of strike action over two weekends this month in a dispute over work/life balance, a union has said.

Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union will walk out from 0.01am on Friday August 12 until 11.59pm on Monday August 15, and for three days over the bank holiday weekend from August 27.

The latter strike, however, may be called off this Thursday and Friday if Southern Railway agrees to urgent talks without pre-conditions, the RMT union said.

Meanwhile, two protests will take place today - the RMT outside the Department for Transport from 8am and the passenger groups, Campaign for Better Transport and the Association of British Commuters, at London Victoria from 5:30pm.

Watch | Five-day strike begins on Southern rail

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The newest bout of strike action is being taken due to Eurostar's failure to honour an agreement from 2008 which sought to ensure that train managers could expect a good work/life balance in terms of unsocial hours and duty rosters, the union said.

Union members claim that this balance was being "repeatedly undermined".

The strike will take place in the peak travel period of AugustCredit:
EPA

Mick Cash, the RMT general secretary, said: "Our train manager members at Eurostar have a heavy commitment to shift work and unsocial hours and are sick and tired of the company's failure to honour agreements.

"Our members have every right to have a fair work/life balance that fulfils the operational needs of the company while guaranteeing quality time off for friends and family.

"It's now time for Eurostar to come to the negotiating table with a set of proposals that honours our agreements and guarantees our members a genuine work/life balance."

Around 80 train managers on UK contracts are involved in the dispute and Eurostar says the strike will only impact two out of 60 daily services.

A Eurostar spokesman said: "We are aware of the plans for strike action and our focus has been seeking a joint resolution whilst planning to provide a good service for our customers.

"On the days of the strike we have made some small changes to our timetable to ensure that all passengers booked to travel will be able to on those days. Passengers affected will be notified in advance."